Fantasy Football Rankings 2018: Running back busts to avoid

3. Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins

Current ADP: 123.4

For anyone hoping that Adrian Peterson is going to suddenly return to form with the Washington Redskins, prepare to be disappointed. As we saw a season ago, AP is a shell of his former self and probably should have opted for retirement this offseason.

And yet, here he is trying to carve out a role for himself with the Redskins.

Let’s not pretend like Peterson can suddenly be a star again. Playing for the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals last season, the future Hall of Famer managed only 3.4 yards per carry and only found the end zone twice. Although Washington has a solid offensive line, there’s no way the 33-year old has-been is going to regain his former glory.

Now it’s not just his rapidly diminishing skill set that’s going to cost his fantasy owners this season. Despite the loss of Derrius Guice, the Redskins have a number of weapons to deploy in the backfield. It’s already assumed Peterson will split the early-down work with Rob Kelley, and Chris Thompson is locked in as the third-down back.

That may leave Peterson with about 10 touches per game, give or take a few. Even if he does manage to keep Kelley on the bench for the majority of the game, I don’t see the Redskins handing him the football more than 15 times. Between his age and expected volume, there just isn’t enough value in drafting Peterson.

If we were five years in the past, I’d say go for it. Unfortunately, it’s 2018 and Peterson is far from fantasy relevant.